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AMD Ryzen 5 5600G vs Intel Core i5-12600KF: Comparison
AMD Ryzen 5 5600G vs Intel Core i5-12600KF total cores compared
There is no decisive spec gap here. Total cores splits them by a margin most buyers will never feel, AMD Ryzen 5 5600G 6 against Intel Core i5-12600KF 10. Blender Cycles (CPU) backs the spec sheet up. Intel Core i5-12600KF scores 272 to 146 over 74 runs, 46% clear. Add l2 cache to that, 3 MB on the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G versus 9.5 MB on the Intel Core i5-12600KF, and the pattern holds. Add l3 cache to that, 16 MB on the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G versus 20 MB on the Intel Core i5-12600KF, and the pattern holds.
Which should you buy, AMD Ryzen 5 5600G or Intel Core i5-12600KF?
Take the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G for budget desktop builds wanting genuine Zen 3 performance with capable integrated graphics. It is not the one for buyers specifically needing maximum multi-threaded throughput, the 8-core Ryzen 7 5700G offers meaningfully more within the same generation. The Intel Core i5-12600KF suits enthusiast desktop gaming and overclocking with discrete GPU, though it is the wrong buy for systems without a discrete GPU and fanless designs. Our rating of the Intel Core i5-12600KF (7.8/10): the Intel Core i5-12600KF is an unlocked, GPU-less chip aimed at enthusiasts already running a discrete graphics card.
What AMD Ryzen 5 5600G and Intel Core i5-12600KF have in common
Where they agree, they agree completely, performance cores, form factor, release year, market segment and smt enabled included, so the decision does not turn on any of those. They match on 5 further specifications as well.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600G vs Intel Core i5-12600KF price
Price will not decide this: $259 against $264 at the last check.
Frequently asked questions
Do the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G and Intel Core i5-12600KF differ on efficiency cores?
Yes. Efficiency Cores reads 0 on the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G versus 4 on the Intel Core i5-12600KF.
Is the Unlocked Multiplier the same on the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G and Intel Core i5-12600KF?
It is. Both are listed at Yes, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Product Line
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- Ryzen 5
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- Core
Form Factor
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- Desktop
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- Desktop
Model Number
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- 5600G
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- i5-12600KF
Codename
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- Cezanne
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- Alder Lake
Release Year
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- 2021
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- 2021
TDP
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- 65 W
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- 125 W
iGPU
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- Radeon Graphics
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- None
Market Segment
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- Desktop
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- Desktop
Microarchitecture
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- Zen 3, Ryzen 5000 Series "Cezanne"
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- Alder Lake
Socket
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- AM4
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- FCLGA1700
Socket Status
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- End of Life
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- Mature
Process Node
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- 7 nm
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- 7 nm
Total Cores
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- 6
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- 10Best
Performance Cores
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- 6
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- 6
Efficiency Cores
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- 0
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- 4Best
Total Threads
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- 12
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- 16Best
SMT Enabled
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- Yes
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- Yes
P-Core Base Clock
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- 3.9 GHz
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- 3.7 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- 4.4 GHz
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- 4.9 GHz
Unlocked Multiplier
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- Yes
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- Yes
L2 Cache
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- 3 MB-68%
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- 9.5 MBBest
L3 Cache
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- 16 MB-20%
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- 20 MBBest
Base Power
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- 65 W
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- 125 W
Max Turbo Power
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- 88 W
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- 150 W
Memory Type
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- DDR4
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- DDR5, DDR4Best
Max Memory Speed
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- 3200 MT/s
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- 4800 MT/sBest
Memory Channels
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- 2
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- 2
Max Memory Capacity
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- 128 GB
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- 128 GB
Integrated Graphics
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- Yes
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- No
Copilot Plus Certified
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- No
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- No
PCIe Generation
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- 3
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- PCIe 5.0
PCIe Lanes
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- 20
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- 20
Launch MSRP
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- $259
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- $264
Retail Availability
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- Retail
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- Boxed Retail
Benchmarks
- 3D Rendering
Blender Cycles (CPU)
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- 146-46%
- Intel Core i5-12600KF
- 272Best
Blender 4.5, Blender Open Data (CC0). Median of monster + junkshop + classroom, combined samples/min.
Renders a 3D scene using every core. Shows speed for 3D and rendering work, not gaming.
Which one should you pick?
Choose 5600G if you want the higher memory channels (2 vs 2) and the higher PCIe lanes (20 vs 20).
Choose 12600KF if you want the higher L2 cache (9.5 MB vs 3 MB), the higher L3 cache (20 MB vs 16 MB) and the higher blender cycles (CPU) (272 vs 146).
Price comparison
| Retailer | AMD Ryzen 5 5600G | Intel Core i5-12600KF |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $259.00 View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
| Newegg | View on Newegg | $264.00 View on Newegg |
| Best Buy | View on Best Buy | View on Best Buy |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
Intel Core i5-12600KF
7.8 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core i5-12600KF is an unlocked, GPU-less chip aimed at enthusiasts already running a discrete graphics card.